Korean Bulgogi Lettuce Wraps

If you have never had Korean bulgogi, essentially super tender and delicious pieces of thinly sliced beef or pork, marinated and grilled, well, then you have got something to look forward to. Korean bulgogi, in a sense, reminds of of Filipino barbecue (another favorite in this house), and something that is not only easy to make, but something that everyone loves.

You can use Korean bulgogi served over rice, on tacos, quesadillas, and in my case lettuce wraps.

Let’s get started.

Ingredients for the marinade:

• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1/2 whole onion, finely minced or grated
• 8 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 medium sized gala apple, skin removed, roughly chopped
• 1 tbsp grated ginger
• 1 tbsp cracked black pepper
• 2 whole stalks of green onions, ends trimmed, roughly chopped
• 1 tbsp mirin
• 1 1/2 tbsp dark sesame oil
• 2 lbs beef sirloin, thinly sliced on the bias
• 2 tbsp sesame seeds

Ingredients for the Lettuce Wraps:

• 1 head of bib lettuce
• 1 bag of coleslaw
• 2 tbsp mayonnaise
• Cucumber, thinly sliced
• 1 green bell pepper thinly sliced and sauteed (optional)
• 1/2 onion, thinly sliced and sauteed (optional)

Start by blending the following:

• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1/2 whole onion, finely minced or grated
• 8 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 medium sized gala apple, skin removed, roughly chopped
• 1 tbsp grated ginger
• 1 tbsp cracked black pepper
• 1 tbsp mirin
• 1 1/2 tbsp dark sesame oil

Take this mixture, and marinate the beef into a mixing bowl, and mix well. Next add in the green onions, sesame seeds, and mix well. Marinate this mixture for at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight.

The following day, remove the beef marinade, and let it come to a bit of room temperature, just something to knock the chill off.

I like to grill my Korean bulgogi, but all means you can do this on large skillet. I just like the additional flavor from the grill.

Get your grill going. Once the grill is nice and hot, add the beef slices and cook until about medium. These will go quickly. As you can see I had my oldest manning the grill. Place the cooked slices of beef in a bowl, and repeat until all of the beef is cooked.

Form your lettuce wraps by taking a piece of lettuce, add in a piece or two of beef, tuck in some cucumbers, slaw, onions and peppers, and dig in. You want to talk about beef that is loaded with flavor and is perfect for summertime grilling, well this is the one. Hope you enjoy!